On Helping Others

Jun 30, 2015|

Helping others brings joy to the heart, but…

Thursday afternoon, our CEO asked me to bring him to Charles de Gaulle Airport. He told me that there is a strike of taxi drivers going on and he cannot get any taxi. Porte Maillot was blocked so we took Boulevard Pheripherique from Porte de la Muette. Along the route, there was no sign of any disturbed flow of traffic. We arrived at the airport as if there is nothing going on.

As I parked the car in front of Terminal C to drop our CEO, a lady pulling her luggage approached my service car. She said she just arrived from Mexico to visit her sick mother. She can’t get any transportation to Paris. She said there was no taxi taking any passengers, RER is not accessible. I told her that there should be a bus or train going to Paris. She said she tried everything but was not able to get one. She will go just right at the exit of Porte de Clichy in Boulevard Peripherique. She asked me to take her if ever if it’s along my way. Since I’d be passing along that way, I said no problem, you can hop in. At least, I’d be able to help her in a little way.

Coming back to Paris is another story! Strikers are blocking the road going out of Terminal E and F. They are checking every car if they are with Uber or private cars who are taking passengers. It was then that I thought I might be in a big trouble. I took someone that I don’t even know. The strikers may think that I am taking passengers illegally. I asked her name and her mobile phone, I give her mine. I told her that we might create an alibi, just in case. The best alibi we’ve come upon is that I was asked by her sister to pick her up from the airport. When my turn to pass the strikers, the Gendarme signaled me to make a turn. That will bring me back again in front of Terminal C where I came from!

So rather than to make a turn again to pass along the blockage, I went straight to Terminal G. I know that there are very few airlines using this terminal, so there should be very few people. If only I can make it to the overpass, I’d be able to avoid the protesters. I was right! The first turn between Terminal E and Terminal G led me to the overpass! I made it! We are out of the airport.

Before the entrance to the autoroute, there were still some strikers. Slowly we were able to pass the strikers because there were Gendarmes taking control of the situation.

When we are along the autoroute, she told me that her sister asked her to come to Paris urgently. Their mother is very ill. I asked why she preferred to be in Mexico than France. She said she was married with a Mexican citizen and they have their business running very well.

I made an exit to Porte de Clichy and dropped the lady. I bid farewell and wished her that she’d find her mother in good condition.

Arriving home at past six in the evening after work, I then saw in the TV news about the protests. Some people were injured, vehicles were burned. The taxi drivers were able to slow down people in airports. Protesters were not happy with Uber. They blame Uber for the loss of their business.

It’s really great helping others as it brings joy to one’s heart, but it should not be that you are putting the burden to you.

Sunday, as I am writing this article, I called the lady just to check about her mother. I was told that her mother passed away just few hours after she arrived as if her mother is only waiting for her. She’s so thankful that at least she was able to spend few moments. I said that I was very sorry to hear the news. I bid goodbye and hanged up.

New way to help

What could be a better way to extend helping hand than to share ideas and inspirations how to take charge ones finances? I’ve meet so many Filipinos who decided to go back home to Philippines only to be back in few years because of the lack of knowledge in personal finance. So many of us here in France simply living by and sending most of our hard-earned money to the Philippines without thinking about ourselves.

Yes, there is always a way to extend a hand – sharing inspirations to do something that will make a big difference in our financial future.